Public employee unions in Connecticut may not have to negotiate new contracts based on the state's outdated, low-ball revenue assumptions, thanks to a groundbreaking arbitration victory notched this month by AFT Connecticut's largest local.

A March 7 binding arbitration award gives professionals represented by the Administrative & Residual Employees Union salary increases that break the prevailing wage pattern for public employees in the state. The union won 3.5 percent general wage increases in 2004, 2005 and 2006, retroactive to July 1 of last year. It marked a major victory for public employees in the state, who have been saddled with wage freezes or raises of no more than 3 percent since the state laid off thousands of public employees in 2003.

The layoffs, sparked by plunging government receipts in 2003, ushered in what A&R president Mike Winkler called a chilling bargaining climate for public employee unions that has remained in place even after revenues have climbed. A&R, working in cooperation with the AFT research department, met the challenge with hard-nosed, aggressive bargaining that documented rising state revenues and offered compelling evidence that Connecticut now had the wherewithal to give competitive salary increases to employees.

Although Winkler expressed disappointment that the arbitrator would not extend the 3.5 percent increase to 2003, the first year of the contract, the opinion bodes well for future negotiations since it dismisses the state's contention that Connecticut's revenue situation has not meaningfully improved.

"Other unions are thrilled we didn't just lay down and take a zero," said Winkler. "We settled a year that nobody else had settled, and breaking the 3 percent pattern is a wonderful gift for them."

The arbitration award "represents a groundbreaking settlement for Connecticut state employees," said Steve Porter, director of AFT Public Employees. "I know this was a hard- fought victory coming on the heels of some very tough battles with the previous governor.  Public employee salary increases have slowed in recent years, and it is great to see this kind of progress.  This is a tremendous achievement that will benefit state professionals and the state of Connecticut and will set the pace for others to follow."

Significantly, the arbitration award improves salaries without sacrificing security. The union succeeded in maintaining layoff language and thwarting state efforts to weaken employee protections against displacement. This was a major concern of A&R, which represents a variety of state professionals, most being highly educated or specialized office workers in the fiscal, administrative, planning, legal and tax-related fields.

Additionally, the award preserves alternative work schedule language and promotes the use of unbalanced schedules (weeks of varying length that total 80 hours for the pay period). This was a key bargaining objective expressed for members, particularly in an age when many professionals must care for both children and parents, said Winkler, who is also a member of the AFT Public Employees program and policy council. It also includes increased tuition assistance for employees and state-paid costs for securing certificates and licenses necessary to do their work.

The Legislature should receive the contract from the state's Office of Policy and Management on or before March 19. The Legislature has 30 days to act on the contract. The contract would become law on April 18 if the Legislature does not take action. [Mike Rose]

March 16, 2005